Italia 08.. a few pictures

[Bryn]

A great trip.. Thanks Paul

We met up Friday 13th at the Dover Docks... Flash and mrs Flash were waiting in Calais

A brisk ride down to Nancy in France.. then the following day we headed to Basel where we met up with Stolzy
The drizzle was a bit annoying but we had high hopes for better weather..
Somewhere near the Swiss border

Through the longest tunnel I've ever been in.. (St.Gotthard 17KM) and down to lake Maggiore.. and then Como

Magic Lake Como... and the bar

Como in the background, a short walk for a pizza

We slummed it..Marble floors and a balcony... the view over the unwashed on the campsite

The next day off to Pisa.. still drizzling but fairly warm with it

Just south of Milan

And a stop for a cappuchino.. a shmoke and a pancake

After lunch down to Sestri levante.. just outside of Genoa.. for more ice cream.. temperatures up and the sun is out..

After lunch the twisty bits took us to this place

Then after a hard days riding we arrived here ...

Small fella couldn't reach

Caravan accomodation at Pisa was a bit basic

I'm not sure what the head on the roof rack was about...perhaps it was to distract Seamus while his tankbag was nicked.. if so it worked a treat...

A ride from Pisa took us down to Rome.. a long day and the furthest south we would go ....

A day off in Rome.. a Maserati Quattorporte with an Italian Cop in a Gucci suit and shiny shoes

More later ...

 

[Bryn]

Stevo and H. along with Tom (Intermediate) myself and Lyn jumped on an open topped bus for a tour.. then found ourselves to be Christian pilgrims.. as we'd got on the religious tour bus.. not realising there was a difference.. it seemed to go to all the places you'd want to see anyway.. temperature up to 30+ by now

Remember Ben Hur?.. this was where it happened.. Circus Maximus.. now just a field

The Tomb of the unknown warrier.. pretty impressive

Over the Tiber to the Vatican

Yes, that's the queue to go and have a look

The tour guide at the Coliseum said that the marble in the columns outside the Vatican was nicked from the pavements at the Coliseum....some sort of statement about something good coming out of bad ....

How could we get lost leaving Rome with Major Gadget with us?? The traffic was interesting though.. still sunny in the 30's...

 

[Bryn]

We left Rome and headed towards Rimini.. a long day up in the hills.. with a few distractions at coffee break time

She didn't want her photo taken, but a long distance shot didn't seem to worry her....

The coffee and ice cream stop

Off into the hills again.. and following Paul bde's interesting route

Another stop in Piobbico..

A take on the Hollywood sign?

We skirted round San Marino.. and arrived in Rimini.. like skegness with scooters and sunshine

The next day we're off again heading North to Venice... Hot and sunny again

 

[Bryn]

We arrived in Venice and caught the bus into the town.. it was extremely expensive and seemed full of rude people...

the grand canal

A venice hackney carriage

The Rialto bridge.. the famous one I believe

Out of Venice and up into the Dolomites.. didn't see any of Bakerman's dancing girls, but lots of other nice scenery

Destination Stelvio.. then up into Austria to a stop in Southern Germany.. a long but worthwhile day

 

[Bryn]

The approach to the Stelvio pass was a fresh bit of perfect tarmac... about 10 miles long....only trouble it was climbing like crazy, with hairpins, no barriers, and only wide enough for one vehicle

This is a wide bit half way up..

Arty shot ruined by some tossers boot

A bit nearer the top

Stopped on some loose stuff for a photo... bike decided it had had enough What better place for a shot like that though

Unfortunately Stolzy was round the next bend wanting some action shots

Not a google earth shot.. thats the way down

Frozen lake up on the snow line.. 2800 metres still 30 degrees +

Stolzy

Down the other side for a well deserved break, then a quick blast to Grainau

The Hotel

What a view from a bedroom window

Next and last proper day, and a blast up to Mainz.. 380 miles

on the way lunch

The following day it was home... 11 days... 3000 miles first two days showers.. the rest all above 30 degrees with bright sunshine.. how good is that??



Made new friends.. saw old ones.. looking forward to the next one

 

[MikeP]

Cracking photo's!

Enjoyed that.

 

[Kate]

Loved the photo's, really enjoy the report

 

[piskoGSA]

nice job with the photos, great trip , BRAVO to all, I bet you all can't wait till the next one.

 

[Duchess]

Some great photo's there Bryn .....

I'd love to do that trip. You covered alot of miles in a week.


Thanks for sharing.

 

[Arsey]

Looks like you had a lucky escape !!!

 

[Aidan1150]

Great pics there Bryn. Looks like a good trip.

 

[sijohnston]

great photos, and inspiring me for my departure to some of the same playgrounds next week. thanks folks!

 

[Bryn]

Looks like you had a lucky escape !!!

in a luxury hotel as well... not good

 

[Dave56]

Enjoyed that, nice photos

 

[Jockser]

Nice pics Bryn

I trust Flash kept youse all entertained

 

[Bryn]

Nice pics Bryn

I trust Flash kept youse all entertained

Sure did.. ask him about his neighbours in the Rome accomodation

 

[Taff]

Enjoyed that report, but was I the only one that thought this trip was partly to watch a football tournament?

 

[Stevo]

Nice pics Bryn

I trust Flash kept youse all entertained

Yeah he was really quiet and very good at applying his make-up in Pisa

 

[swissrob]

the 2nd pic.. where was that taken as there are no mountains like that near basel that i know of......

 

[Paulbde]

It was a trip!

Enjoyed that report, but was I the only one that thought this trip was partly to watch a football tournament?

Italia 08 was nothing to do with football